Brian McManus spent one year researching his book on Philly's best dive bars. Here's what he came up with: "Dive bars are like pornography: hard to define, but you know one when you see it." We're on board with this definition, having done significant time in bars populated entirely by lit cigarettes, ugly looks, and shots of whiskey like gasoline.

To promote his tome of invaluable information, called simply Philadelphia's Best Dive Bars, McManus will tell tales and wax poetic about his favorite spots Wednesday at Philly's Pen & Pencil Club. Come out to see if you're favorite gets a plug. Who knows—maybe McManus was almost stabbed there.